Trophel Tours & Treks

Operating since 2007, Trophel Tours & Treks is essentially a family run business managed by Chencho, Sonam and Pem ( Father, daughter, and son). Wondering about ‘MOTHER’ Well! her ( Lalita) hands are full managing the local restaurant Sonam Trophel Paro.

Our USP is we are extremely passionate about BHUTAN and simply want our clients to experience Bhutan, as we LOCALs do #NOFILTER. Being a Bhutan based travel agency, focused on curating authentic tailor-made holidays to Bhutan, authenticity and sustainability are key to our travel programs. Our trips are an opportunity to meet and connect with local people and to forge lifelong friendships. Every itinerary is thoroughly vetted from our personal local experience on the ground and it encourages you to become an engaged traveler through interactions with the local communities. Our philosophy is a simple one; to offer you the best possible local tour experience and contribute to the development of local Bhutanese communities. We understand the only way to achieve this is to have a genuine local expert guide you and curate a holiday around your interests, needs, and budget and with total commitment to quality.

Featured trips & expertise

Explore the enigmatic kingdom of Bhutan and its magnificent landscape of soaring mountain peaks and lush green valleys. On this seven-day excursion, you'll visit its famous fortresses and monasteries, gain insight into the country's fascinating history and culture, and do some light hiking in the stunning countryside.

This itinerary combines wild adventure with Bhutan's unique culture. The trek, though challenging, is highly rewarding and one of Bhutan's best. En route, catch glimpses of the spectacular Mount Jhomolhari, which straddles the border between China (Tibet) and Bhutan. In Thimphu and other small towns, learn about Bhutan's unique form of Tibetan Buddhism and the culture that was cut off from the rest of the world for so long. In short, this trip has it all!

From the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery to the sleepy streets of Paro, visiting Bhutan is all about the simple pleasures of natural beauty and a distinctly preserved culture. Experience this long-isolated country's stunning mountains, colorful architecture, and lush countryside on this comprehensive 10-day tour.

Explore mystical, naturally resplendent Bhutan - also known as Druk-Yal, the land of the thunder dragon - as it emerges from the mists of its self-imposed isolation. From museums to monasteries, this tour will guide you through some of the best of Bhutanese life, culture, nature, and history.

Trek through an area adorned with a multitude of pristine, crystal clear lakes, and Bhutanese villages. As you walk, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the entire Himalayan mountain range and some of the world’s highest peaks - including Mt. Everest, Jomolhari, Masang Gang, and many more.

Recent Trip Reviews for Trophel Tours & Treks

Trek bhutan, Bhutan
- Dec 23 - Dec 31, 2018

Gem and Migmar provided excellent professional service. There were few problems but when one occurred it was resolved quickly and in a professional manner. Gem was flexible and adapted the schedule to suit my individual needs when required.

Dagala thousand lakes trek - 12 days, Bhutan
- Oct 31 - Nov 11, 2018

we had a fantastic trip. everything was very well organised and we were looked after luxuriously. we got on great with our guide and he did a lot to anticipate our needs. I would definitely recommend them.

It was great fun for us to interact with you, while in Bhutan and truly appreciate the opportunity and faith to organize the trek. We will be pleased to pass on your lovely comments to Tek. Hopefully the uncharted trails of Bhutan have inspired you and look forward to organizing another one in not too distance future.

With best regards Sonam

Trip to bhutan, Bhutan
- Oct 19 - Nov 3, 2018

Bhutan was an incredible adventure and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Vishal and Sonam put together a great trip!! I feel like Migmar and Gem were not only the best driver/guide in the whole country but lifelong friends as well. I had a great time and highly recommend Vishal and his team

Dear Luke,
Thank you for this opportunity to build lifelong friendship with us and off course Gem and Migmar.
We are glad to hear you had an incredible adventure and the kingdom lived up to your expectation.
We look forward to organizing yet another adventure in not too distant future.
With best regards Sonam

The whole trip was amazing. Thanks to the incredible organization by Vishal the trip ran smoothly and to plan, but we always felt there was flexibility to cater for the unexpected.
As I said, the trip was extremely well organized to cater for the two of us. Neither of us are young but we are both fairly energetic still. The activities, visits, walks suited us very well. Vishal constantly kept in contact with our guide to make sure everything ran smoothly for us.
We were both very pleased... read more

The whole trip was amazing. Thanks to the incredible organization by Vishal the trip ran smoothly and to plan, but we always felt there was flexibility to cater for the unexpected.
As I said, the trip was extremely well organized to cater for the two of us. Neither of us are young but we are both fairly energetic still. The activities, visits, walks suited us very well. Vishal constantly kept in contact with our guide to make sure everything ran smoothly for us.
We were both very pleased with the high standard of accommodation Vishal organized for us throughout the trip.
Vishal chose a driver and a guide both of whom can only be described as amazing.
I suffer from travel sickness. The driver and guide were both aware of this and kept a very close eye on me, particularly when we were on the very windy roads.The driving was also adjusted to ensure I had a comfortable ride. Our every need was anticipated.The driver never hesitated to find a safe place to stop when we wished to take photos.
My traveling companion doesn't like certain foods, our guide always checked to make sure that what was offered was suitable for her, and if not suitable had something else cooked for her.
Our guides general knowledge was amazing and he showed a great love for his country.
I can't say there was one place that was most memorable as each place we visited had its own story and its own beauty. Enhanced by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.Every day and every activity provided us with an endless set of wonderful memories.There were no low points in the trip.
I have already started recommending Vishal and Bhutan to my friends who are interested in traveling there.

What a delighted it was for us to host you in Bhutan, brought along fond memories of Australia. We truly appreciate this opportunity to showcase our country and glad to hear that the services were up-to your expectation. Thank you once gain. Stay adventurous’ and blessings from Bhutan. Sonam

Trip to bhutan, Bhutan
- Oct 16 - Oct 28, 2018

Karma and Sam were both very friendly, knowledgeable and extremely professional.
The Dagala trek was a highlight for me and a special adventure. Although the cultural sites were rich and came alive with Karma,s descriptions and history.
I hope to return to Bhutan again and I would certainly recommend Vishal and his team.

Bhutan discovery, Bhutan
- Sep 22 - Sep 29, 2018

Very enjoyable and well organised trip. Thank you Vishal. Hotels exceeded my expectations. Guide Younten was very effective and looked after everything without fail. I did not catch everything he told us but that was mainly due to my deafness. The driver Sonam was safe and alert at all times and despite challenging mountain roads I never felt nervous. The Hikes were just wonderful although the altitude and my old age made them fairly tough.

Very enjoyable and well organised trip. Thank you Vishal. Hotels exceeded my expectations. Guide Younten was very effective and looked after everything without fail. I did not catch everything he told us but that was mainly due to my deafness. The driver Sonam was safe and alert at all times and despite challenging mountain roads I never felt nervous. The Hikes were just wonderful although the altitude and my old age made them fairly tough.

We sometimes wished for additional activities between 3.30 and 6 pm. I think many customers would have been happy with the free time and we would have been happy to have a swim but hotels do not have pools. Of course the highlight was Tigers nest but the Simply Bhutan experience was also fun and informative. The Archery and Darts were also a lot of fun albeit seemed a bit dangerous by european health and safety standards.

Thank you for this lovely feedback and the opportunity to host you. We are glad to hear that you had a great time with your son. I am certain Yonten and sonam would be thrilled to hear about your feedbacks.

Hummingbird bhutan, Bhutan
- Aug 26 - Aug 31, 2018

Vishal and his lovely wife, Sonam, looked after our group of 19 people as if we were family. I recommend their services because they have provided 100% of what they promised to us, plus more. I will certainly continue to use their skills because they are honest, genuine people who made all the arrangements for our complicated group, easy. Thank you Vishal and Sonam.

Thank you for trusting us to execute this group. It gives us great pleasure to note that months and months of planning had come to fruition. While, it was complicated, however, we thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and had excellent learnings. We thank you and the entire group for bearing with us and limitations of destination and lastly giving us this opportunity.

Wishing you the best and look forward hosting you again in Bhutan soon.

4 night add on trip, Bhutan
- Aug 22 - Aug 26, 2018

The trip was outstandingly well prepared and the tour guide and driver were meticulous in their care and service throughout the time in Bhutan. I could not have wished for more. I felt comfortable, safe and very well looked after. Further there was good intuition about what it was we wanted to do and this was well met. Bhutan was an exciting and different place to visit. it was gentle, clean, safe and spectacular throughout the four days.

Truly appreciate your kind words. We are fortunate to have had an opportunity to create meaningful experiences for you. We are hopeful that our paths will cross again in future. Till then take care and lots of blessings from Bhutan.

With best regards Sonam

4 night add on trip, Bhutan
- Aug 22 - Aug 26, 2018

We had a fantastic trip to Bhutan guided by Ut. He was such a lovely person and went out of his way to make sure everything was going well. We covered a lot of Bhutan, but it was also varied. Our homestay was a highlight of the trip getting to know a beautiful family. I would highly recommend the Kim Kim team when planning a trip to Bhutan, especially Vishal.

We are humbled to hear of your kind words. Sonam and I had a great time hosting and interacting with you in our country. I am hopeful, that you take back home, beautiful and meaningful experiences. I am certain UT would be pleased to hear of your feedback and rest assured as suggested we will actively promote the homestays.

Wow where to even start. Our time in Bhutan was so incredible we are still dreaming about it, and it would not have been the same without the amazing care from Vishal and Sonam.

They put in so much attention to customize the perfect trip for your needs. (They even know which room in the hotel has the best views!) Vishal and Sonam will go out of their way to ensure your stay in Bhutan is comfortable.

Our guide, Tek, was very accommodating. My boyfriend and I were doing our first multi-day... read more

Wow where to even start. Our time in Bhutan was so incredible we are still dreaming about it, and it would not have been the same without the amazing care from Vishal and Sonam.

They put in so much attention to customize the perfect trip for your needs. (They even know which room in the hotel has the best views!) Vishal and Sonam will go out of their way to ensure your stay in Bhutan is comfortable.

Our guide, Tek, was very accommodating. My boyfriend and I were doing our first multi-day backpacking trip, and Tek was supportive through the whole journey. He gave us the perfect balance of personal attentiveness and space, had answers to all our questions, and also was very easy to get along with.

I am definitely coming to Trophel tours for our next trip to Bhutan- :)

Thank you for your lovely feedback and that we were able to make your trip to Bhutan a memorable one. Sonam and I, are very glad that we could meet with you and Jonathan after all the interactions that we have had long before your trip. We will make sure we share your thoughts with Tek and rest of the team.

I hope everything went well in Mongolia and that you enjoyed the beautiful wedding in Bali.

Till we meet again.

With lots of love and prayers from Bhutan

Vishal

Trip to bhutan, Bhutan
- May 1 - May 6, 2018

Bhutan has a special place in my heart, not least due to the superb, seamless organisational efforts of Vishal and Sonam at Trophel Tours, and the excellent, informative and gracious care of our "walking encyclopaedia" guide UT. Pre-trip communications built an impression of courteous, lovely people who know their country intricately, and I felt in capable hands before we even set foot in beautiful Bhutan. Such a relief to have all the administrative intricacies of permits and visas dealt... read more

Bhutan has a special place in my heart, not least due to the superb, seamless organisational efforts of Vishal and Sonam at Trophel Tours, and the excellent, informative and gracious care of our "walking encyclopaedia" guide UT. Pre-trip communications built an impression of courteous, lovely people who know their country intricately, and I felt in capable hands before we even set foot in beautiful Bhutan. Such a relief to have all the administrative intricacies of permits and visas dealt with fully and efficiently on our behalf. All t's crossed and all i's dotted. Given our relatively short time there (only 5 days of activity), we packed in a huge amount without feeling squeezed and rushed - many thanks for all the suggestions and working them into a terrific short itinerary. Bumdra Camp, "sky burial", the wonderful hot stone bath (what a lodge!), CheLa Pass, the forest/rhododendron walk to the nunnery and the exhilarating downhill cycle were unforgettable, ditto the visit to Tigers Nest monastery, without which no trip to Bhutan is really complete! So lucky also to be there for the final of the national archery competition. The cultural visits and museum are fabulous (and I'm not generally a museum person). UT's knowledge brought everything alive - a big thanks to him, and for the careful driving by our lovely driver in a superbly comfortable vehicle. The food - well, yum! I would happily travel with Trophel Tours again; many thanks to all concerned.
On a general note, I hope that Bhutan develops a strong policy to take care of its pristine environment well at this relatively early stage in its touristic development - it was sad to see a large quantity of toilet paper and human waste scattered amongst the trees and bushes around Bumdra. Could something be done about this by the local and tourism authorities so it doesn't become a huge problem like on Mt Everest and parts of Nepal? I hope so!

Bhutan adventure, Bhutan
- May 2 - May 12, 2018

We could not have been better paired with our guide and driver - Yenten and MigMar. Yenten was excellent company throughout the trip and was able to explain complicated subjects clearly and easily to us.

Bhutan adventure, Bhutan
- May 2 - May 12, 2018

OK. Firstly Bhutan. ..... What an Amazing country.
Our trip was very well designed by Vishal. I gave him information on What exactly I wanted to do & he designed a wonderful 10 day journey which included more than I expected......
Our Guide & Driver (Younten & Migma) were the most beautiful souls one could ever want to share time with....
Our guide was well extremely well informed about the Bhutanese Buddhist Culture & also a very experienced Mountain Guide.... They both gave us a humbled ,... read more

OK. Firstly Bhutan. ..... What an Amazing country.
Our trip was very well designed by Vishal. I gave him information on What exactly I wanted to do & he designed a wonderful 10 day journey which included more than I expected......
Our Guide & Driver (Younten & Migma) were the most beautiful souls one could ever want to share time with....
Our guide was well extremely well informed about the Bhutanese Buddhist Culture & also a very experienced Mountain Guide.... They both gave us a humbled , interesting & heart warming experience of Bhutan.
Every day we were exposed to new, unexpected & intersting experiences. The programme was well designed , with unexpected extra experiences added.
Our Tour designers (Vishal & Sonam) gave us first class attention, from meeting us at the airport on arrival to inviting us to dinner with them .
They were friendly & helpful making sure that our Bhutan Experience was the best it could possibly be.

Vishal and I had a great time hosting and interacting with you and Simon. And it is such a nice feeling to hear that arrangements had been well executed, especially after working on it for soooooo long. I will be pleased to pass on your compliments to the boys. As we always say kindness beckons kindness and I believe this has made all the difference in your trip.

Till we meet again, Take care & stay healthy. Sonam.

Surprise trip for husband , Bhutan
- Mar 22 - Apr 2, 2018

Working with Vishal and Sonam in planning, booking and enjoying this trip was great from start to finish. They provided good advice on what to do and see during the given time of year and the duration of our trip. We had to chop and change the trip as we had some members of our party drop out and some new people enter during the planning portion. They were very patient and flexible during the whole process and were consistent in their expert professionalism. Our guide, Tek, was very... read more

Working with Vishal and Sonam in planning, booking and enjoying this trip was great from start to finish. They provided good advice on what to do and see during the given time of year and the duration of our trip. We had to chop and change the trip as we had some members of our party drop out and some new people enter during the planning portion. They were very patient and flexible during the whole process and were consistent in their expert professionalism. Our guide, Tek, was very knowledgeable, punctual, and had the bonus of being fun to be around. Vishal and Sonam actually took to the time to check in with us personally multiple times during the extent of our trip, to ensure that everything was to standard and to see if there were any reasonable ways to improve the trip. Bhutan is an extraordinary place and Vishal/Sonam's exceptional customer service made it easy and comfortable the whole way through. I was dubious of the guided nature of this trip as I usually travel freestyle, however Tek and the team made this one of the best trips I have ever embarked on!

Trip to bhutan, Bhutan
- Feb 19 - Feb 28, 2018

All was great-both the driver (Nema) and the guild(Lobzang) did as I asked. I like to see the real world so I tend to travel to places off the beaten path. They showed me the back places of your lovely country. Plan to return. The only mess up was the amount charged per day but Vishal explained the situation and all was straighten out. Well done to all that welcomed be to Bhutan.

Thank you for penning down this feedback. Great to hear that our services were up to your expectations. Lobzang and Nima would be pleased to hear about it. These feedbacks are very critical to the service we strive to deliver and Thank you once again for your thoughts.
Very best to you and see you soon ! Sonam.

Bhutan, Bhutan
- Oct 6 - Oct 16, 2017

The first thing is that I had never done an organised tour before. Of course with the regulations in Bhutan it is the only way to see the country that I had wanted to visit for so long. In my early exchanges with Vishal he made me extremely comfortable that a tour did not mean bus rides with many people; controlled timings on visits to places; and having to ensure we experienced the country at the pace of the slowest person in the group. Vishal carefully asked me what it was I wanted to see... read more

The first thing is that I had never done an organised tour before. Of course with the regulations in Bhutan it is the only way to see the country that I had wanted to visit for so long. In my early exchanges with Vishal he made me extremely comfortable that a tour did not mean bus rides with many people; controlled timings on visits to places; and having to ensure we experienced the country at the pace of the slowest person in the group. Vishal carefully asked me what it was I wanted to see in Bhutan, which Places drew me to the county, and what kind of experience I wanted to take away. He built an itinerary that combined my need to experience the history, the landmarks, the culture and the trekking, suggesting timeframes that would encompass all of these things without needing to rush, and giving me options throughout the itinerary that gave complete flexibility for us to enjoy. The planning became an exciting part of the trip (as it should be) and was an excellent experience.